WARNING TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 179, 27 April 1938, Page 6

WARNING TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN

Will Be Future Ratepayers ADDRESS BY MR. M. G. C. McCAUL “It is all very well for the old men and women to clamour for extravagant expenditure, but it is to-day's young men and women who will have to pay for it; so I say to the young men and women of today. 'Whatch what the old folks are doing—for you may have to pay their debts.’ ” This was the warning given by Mr. M. G. C. MeCaul, candidate for election to the Wellington City Council, speaking at a meeting held at Kelburn last night under the auspices of the Citizens’ Election Committee. Addressing himself to electors of from 21 to 30 years of age, Mr. MeCaul said that he wished to initiate them into one of the tricks of modern State and municipal finance. “It is based largely on the principle of ‘Let posterity pay,’ ” he said. “I ask you to think for a moment who ie posterity? It is you. In 20 years’ time you young men and women of from 21 to 30 years of age will be of 41 to 50 years of age—and will be the people to bear the chief burden of rates. . . . Care in Expenditure Urged. “I do not suggest that the city should not borrow,” Mr. MeCaul continued, “but I do say most emphatically that every item of expenditure should be carefully scrutinised to ensure that there is no extravagance and no waste. “A progressive policy is essential if our city is to keep abreast of the times. The expenditure of borrowed money is often a wise city investment contributing toward the future health and prosperity of the citizens. On the other hand, if the expenditure is unwise, the advantage is only temporary and the loan only adds to the burden of debt that the citizens of 20 years hence will have to bear, without sharing in the advantage that should accrue to them.” Wellington, Mr. MeCaul continued, was heavily rated, because the hilly nature of the land made the laying out of roads and the maintenance of civic services unusually expensive. As a candidate for the city council, he did not believe that the rates could be materially reduced, but he did believe that, by careful administration, they could be kept within bounds. Mr. MeCaul referred to the comprehensive housing report prepared by the city corporation, which had gone further and given more information than had been required by the Government. The report would be of great value to the incoming council in preparing its policy. His own view was that, in housing, the council should follow the policy adopted in Great Britain. There, when the Government had started to build houses, it had found that everyone else stopped. The policy now was to assist people to build their own homes. Building societies lent up to 75 per cent, of the money requirfed, and the Government or the municipalities guaranteed the rest. Under this scheme the building of houses, particularly working-men’s homes, had in. creased enormously, and the result had been the greatest building boom in the history of Great Britain. Business Experience. Mr. MeCaul said that he had lived 54 years in Wellington and was seeking election only because of a desire to give service to 'the public. He emphasised that neither he nor any of the candidates on the citizens’ ticket represented any particular section of the community; their desire was to give fair representation to all. Pointing out that the city council had a revenue of neajrly £2,000,000 annually, Mr. MeCaul urged the desirability of having on the council men with business experience; in this respect he felt that he was fully justified in asking for the support of the electors. Other speakers at the meeting were: Messrs. T. C. A. Hislop (candidate for re-election to the mayoralty), R. A. Maealister (candidate for the city council), R. A. Glen (hospital board), W. Apple-, ton (city council and harbour board), J. C. Crawford (hospital board), L. S. W. Mcenzie (city council), J. D. Sievw.right (hospital board), and Mrs. nox Gilmer (hospital board).